AP Biology

Course Description: The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. After showing themselves to be qualified on the AP Exam, some students, in their first year of college, are permitted to take upper-level courses in biology or register for courses for which biology is a prerequisite. Other students may have fulfilled a basic requirement for a laboratory-science course and will be able to undertake other courses to pursue their majors. The Laboratory techniques in this course are developed to further students’ ability to pursue a career in a biologically related field. Students will conduct laboratory investigations of chemical reactions that occur in organisms. Concepts of molecular and cellular biology, as well as the biology of organisms and population will be investigated. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Biology Exam at the conclusion of the course. AP exam fees may apply. Students not taking the AP exam will not be encouraged to remain in the course.

Prerequisite: Living Environment, Algebra and Chemistry I (recommended) 85 or better on Living Environment and Algebra regents. The AP Biology course is designed to be taken by students after the successful completion of a first course in high school living environment and one in high school chemistry as well. The application process involves a completed course application, submission of your most current high school transcript, two letters of recommendation: one from your previous or current science teacher AND one from your previous or current math teacher, and a letter of intent. Applicants will also be expected to complete 3 basic assignments. This is done to give the instructor better insight into the applicant’s science skills. Each applicant must have at least 90% school attendance and be in good academic standing.

Expected Coursework: Students will be expected to read the relevant material nightly and/or prior to class. Students will also be required to complete reading guides designed to specifically correspond with the text and emphasize the key points and concepts of the course. Lectures, which cover selected concepts from the course, are supplemented with diagrams, explanations, visuals, role-playing, examples and demonstrations. A minimum of 25% of class time will be spent on lab work. All of these labs are student directed. Occasionally, classroom time constraints necessitate additional time spent outside of class in the lab. Occasionally, students are assigned primary research articles as required reading in which they must write abstracts. Students will be required to meet for class during regents week, mid-winter recess and spring break. This is done in preparation for the AP Biology exam in May, 2015.

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